Health Library

Discharge Instructions: Your Child’s Colostomy

Your child has a colostomy. This procedure involved cutting (and sometimes removing) part of the colon (large intestine). The end of the colon was attached to a small hole made in the abdominal wall. This creates an opening in the skin called a stoma. Stool and mucus pass out of the body through this opening into a holding bag. Below are guidelines for home care after a colostomy. The doctor and nursing staff may give you additional instructions for your child.

Home Care

Care for your child’s healing stoma as you were shown. Ask your child’s doctor or nurse for an instruction sheet about stoma care. This will help remind you how to care for the stoma.

After Surgery

Be sure to do the following after surgery:

Care for your child’s stoma as instructed.

Unless told not to, wash the surgical incision(s) with soap and water and pat dry. Your child can shower or bathe as needed, but avoid having water spray right on the incision.

Check the healing incision(s) every day for redness, drainage, swelling, or pulling apart of the skin. Call the doctor if you notice any of the signs listed in the tint box below.

Follow all instructions from the doctor about watching the amount of output into the colostomy bag.